Hot poetry at lulu.com

So for Easter, I thought I'd do a quick check on how The RikVerse is doing.

Lulu.com very kindly ranks books and other products according to how well they're selling. My book currently ranks at #9,536, nestling amid other poetry books like Daisies by Nancy B Mann - "A collection of poems and short stories about loss, grief, and hope. This collection recounts my experiences and feelings after the deaths of my father, maternal grandparents, my cousin, and my mother. I hope others who are grieving may find some comfort in knowing there are others who share their pain and understand the process they are going through"; Words To Dream And Wonder In Pictures by Phillip Allen - "This Sampler contains twenty-one poems set on some wonderful backgrounds. Great for restaurants or special events"; and True Poetry by Michael King - "This is a collection of poems that i have written over the past 5 or 6 years. It has a meaning to it, it teaches and people have told me that my poetry has touched there heart and that it has inspires them. I hope it does for you".

I'm not going to denigrate these people (even after reading Nancy's sampler): they've at least had the guts to pull their fingers out of their arses, do some work and get their poems into print. Each of them has sold as many copies of their books as I have mine. They're investigating the possibilities and living the dream, just like me. Go visit their Lulu pages and check out their product - I mean what's it going to cost you? A couple of minutes of time and a remote chance of spraining your clicking finger?

For those people who like rankings, the top five ranked poetry books on Lulu.com this week are:

1. Wildness in a Small Place by Randy Minnich - "A journal of the author's observations of the passage of a year in an urban nature area, supplemented with poems and drawings."

2. The Bedside Guide to No Tell Motel edited by Molly Arden and Reb Livingston - "These poems will do ANYTHING. Edited by Reb Livingston and Molly Arden from No Tell Motel (www.notellmotel.org), this anthology includes seductive poems by over 80 of today's most discreet poets including Aaron Anstett, Bruce Covey, Catherine Daly, Denise Duhamel, Jill Alexander Essbaum, Amy Gerstler, Noah Eli Gordon, Jennifer Michael Hecht, Cynthia Huntington, Kirsten Kaschock, Amy King, Shin Yu Pai, Lance Phillips, P.F. Potvin, Standard Schaefer, Ravi Shankar, Heidi Lynn Staples, Allyssa Wolf and others."

3. Let a New Woman Rise by Barbara Haskins - "This is the long-awaited, Definitive Collection of poems from revolutionary poetess, BARBARA HASKINS!"

4. Teardrop Diary by Erin McSparron - "This unique book combines original works of poetry, Bible verses, and space to journal thoughts and feelings. It is ideal for anyone who has experienced a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or stillbirth. The poems will walk a grieving person through the many stages of grief, overwhelming feelings, and frustrations associated with their loss. Whether for yourself or for a gift, this book will support, encourage, and help heal hearts after a pregnancy loss."

5. The Healing Conscious by Kifle Bantayehu - "The "Healing Conscious" tells the story of an Ethiopian immigrant boy on his fascinating journey to America and adulthood. The author, a second-generation Ethiopian immigrant, recounts this poignant tale in poetic format. His inspirational collection of poems reflects the final words and thoughts of a dying man who traveled across the world, raised a family and became successful. Finally fulfilling the American dream. Part of the proceeds from book sales will be donated to 46664, Africare, the African AIDS Initiative and other organizations working to promote HIV awareness and helping those affected in Sub-Saharan and East Africa."